Daewoo Kalos Blue 1.4 16v

But a lot can change in a short time. Today, Daewoo is fighting fit, the new Kalos is a decent supermini and the firm has the financial clout of General Motors behind it to ensure long-term survival. Nevertheless, it has to attract more buyers before it can show a good profit - and to do this, Daewoo needs to give its products wider appeal.

That's the idea behind the Kalos Blue. It's the first-ever sporty Daewoo. Not an out-and-out performance car by any means, but one the Koreans hope will tap into the profitable warm hatch market - a scene currently dominated by the MG ZR and Citroen Saxo VTR.

The badge may lack street cred, but Daewoo has done its best to make the Kalos appeal in other ways. The car has been lowered 25mm and comes with stiffer springs, while front and rear bumper spoilers, side skirts and unique 15-inch alloys add visual clout. Daft as it may sound, the Giugiaro styling lends itself well to the butch stance.

The uprated suspension aids the handling, too. With good steering feel and decent grip, the car can be hurried along quite safely. However, the stiffer springs affect the ride and the Kalos crashes over uneven surfaces. It doesn't improve at speed, either - catch a cat's eye while changing lane and you feel it through the car's whole body.

Cabin quality isn't brilliant, with cheap plastics, thin column stalks and a gearlever resembling a knitting needle. And while a straight-through silencer gives the 16-valve 1.4-litre a fruity sound, the unit fails to deliver. The Kalos is nippy round town, but the engine lacks torque and the gearbox has to be stirred constantly to maintain momentum at speed.